Communications methods and apparatus that facilitate discovery of small coverage area base stations

ABSTRACT

A communications system includes a plurality of different types of small coverage area base stations, e.g., femto cell base stations, WiFi access points and Bluetooth access points within a macro cell. Different user equipment (UE) devices, e.g., different smartphones, include different capabilities. In order for UE devices and small coverage area base stations with compatible capabilities to efficiently discover one another, the various small coverage area base stations and various UE devices utilize the macro cell communications band and macro cell communication protocol to coordinate device discovery and exchange discovery information and control information which allows a UE device to access a compatible small coverage area base station and subsequently communicate user data, e.g., traffic data, with the UE device.

FIELD

Various embodiments relate to wireless communications methods andapparatus and, more particularly, to wireless communications methods andapparatus that facilitate discovery of small coverage area base stationsin communications systems.

BACKGROUND

Various user equipment (UE) devices, e.g., smartphones and other mobilecommunications devices, today are equipped with multiple modems thatsupport a variety of technologies such as, e.g., LTE (Long TermEvolution), HSPA (High Speed Packet Access), Wifi, Bluetooth, etc. Thesetechnologies typically operate in different bands. Long term evolution(LTE) itself supports operation in multiple bands (carriers) to increasethe data rates. LTE macro cell base station communications operate in aprimary band while LTE small coverage area base stations may be deployedto use bands that are different from the primary band of the macrocells. In the near future LTE may also have LTE-WiFi aggregation fortraffic offload.

In a system where a variety of different base stations are deployedincluding macro cellular base stations and small coverage area basestations including e.g., LTE femto cell base stations, WiFi accesspoints, and/or Bluetooth APs, it would be beneficial if a UE device wasable to discover the various small coverage area base stations deployedin different bands and/or using different technologies, in addition tobeing able to discover the macro cell base stations, to determine thebest or most suitable interface to use for traffic. Most of thedifferent technologies have different discovery mechanisms. Typically todiscover a particular type of small coverage area base station, whichuses a different technology than the used by the macro cell basestation, the UE device needs to activate a particular modemcorresponding to the technology and needs to keep searching for thattype of small cell base station. Thus to search for both WiFi accesspoints and Bluetooth APs, the UE device may need to active both types ofmodems and search using both types of modems. In the case ofasynchronous technologies such as WiFi and Bluetooth, the searchincreases power consumption of the UE significantly and hampers thebattery life, given that the UE devices have limited battery power andscanning for small coverage area base stations operating in variousfrequency bands can consume a significant amount of battery power. Inthe case where the deployed macro cells use LTE and at least somedeployed small cell base stations, e.g., femto cells, also use LTE, thesmall cell base stations using LTE typically transmit in theirrespective bands, and the UE needs to tune to different bands todiscover the different small cell base stations. During the time ofsearching for the small coverage area LTE base stations, the UE normallyis not communicating with its macro base station, e.g., its eNB, in themacro cell in which the UE is located. This results in loss ofthroughput for an active UE.

In view of the above discussion it should be appreciated that there is aneed for methods and/or apparatus which can facilitate efficientdiscovery of small coverage area base stations, e.g., femto cell basestations, pico cell base stations, WiFi access points, Bluetooth accesspoints, etc. It would be desirable if the methods and/or apparatus arepower efficient, reduce the time for discovering the set of smallcoverage area base stations in an area, and/or reduce the amount ofoverhead signaling over current approaches, thus improving throughputand/or reducing the amount of UE device battery drain expended for smallcoverage area base station searches.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments are directed to methods and apparatus facilitatingcommunications between user equipment devices and small coverage areabase stations. The small coverage area base stations, located within amacro cell corresponding to a macro cell base station, may include awide range of different types, e.g., femto cell base stations, pico cellbase stations, micro cell base stations, WiFi access points, Bluetoothaccess points, etc. Different small coverage area base stations may, andsometimes do, use different communications protocols and/or differentfrequency communications bands when communicating user data signals,e.g., traffic data signals including, e.g., voice data, image data,and/or video data, with a UE device. A particular user equipment (UE)device, e.g., a particular smartphone, supports communications using aplurality of different communications protocols and/or differentfrequency bands, e.g., depending upon the particular set of modemsincluded in the UE device. Different UE devices in the communicationssystem may include different capabilities.

In order to facilitate efficient discovery of small coverage area basestations by UE devices with compatible capabilities and/or the discoveryof UE devices by small coverage area base stations with compatiblecapabilities, the UE devices and the small coverage area base stationsutilize the communications protocol and communications band being usedby the macro cell via which discovery information is communicated. Thediscovery information includes, e.g., identification information, devicecapability information, communications protocol information,communications band information, and/or information used by a UE deviceto access the small coverage area base station using at least one of adifferent communications protocol or a different communication band.

Thus various types of small coverage area base stations and UE devices,located within a macro cell, utilize a common first communicationsprotocol and a common first frequency band to communicate devicecapability information and/or other control information used to supportcommunications including user data signaling between the small coveragearea base station and the UE device. The small coverage area basestation and UE device, use the communicated control information, toreconfigure and subsequently communicate user data.

An exemplary method of operating a user equipment (UE) device, inaccordance with some embodiments, includes: receiving, at a first modemin said UE device, a discovery signal via a first frequency band from asmall coverage area base station, said discovery signal being inaccordance with a first communications protocol; powering a second modemin said UE device in response to receiving said discovery signal; andoperating said second modem to scan a second frequency band for a signalfrom said small coverage area base station in accordance with a secondcommunications protocol or transmit a probe signal to said smallcoverage area base station in said second frequency band, said probesignal being in accordance with said second communications protocol,said second communications protocol being different from said firstcommunications protocol. An exemplary user equipment (UE) device, inaccordance with some embodiments, includes at least one processorconfigured to: operate a first modem in said UE device to receive adiscovery signal via a first frequency band from a small coverage areabase station, said discovery signal being in accordance with a firstcommunications protocol; power a second modem in said UE device inresponse to receiving said discovery signal; and operate said secondmodem to scan a second frequency band for a signal from said smallcoverage area base station in accordance with a second communicationsprotocol or transmit a probe signal to said small coverage area basestation in said second frequency band, said probe signal being inaccordance with said second communications protocol, said secondcommunications protocol being different from said first communicationsprotocol. The exemplary UE device further includes memory coupled tosaid at least one processor.

An exemplary method of operating a first base station, e.g., a smallcoverage area base station, in accordance with some embodiments,includes: monitoring a first frequency band used by a second basestation to detect a signal transmitted by a UE device in said firstfrequency band and communicating information about said first basestation to said UE device in response to said monitoring detecting asignal transmitted by a UE device in said first frequency band. Anexemplary first base station, e.g., a small coverage area base station,in accordance with some embodiments means for monitoring a firstfrequency band used by a second base station to detect a signaltransmitted by a UE device in said first frequency band and means forcommunicating information about said first base station to said UEdevice in response to said monitoring detecting a signal transmitted bya UE device in said first frequency band.

While various embodiments have been discussed in the summary above, itshould be appreciated that not necessarily all embodiments include thesame features and some of the features described above are not necessarybut can be desirable in some embodiments. Numerous additional features,embodiments and benefits of various embodiments are discussed in thedetailed description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary wireless communications systemimplemented in accordance with various exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an exemplary method of operating a userequipment (UE) device in accordance with various exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary user equipment (UE) device in accordancewith various exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates an assembly of modules which can be, and sometime is,used in the exemplary user equipment device shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5A is a first part of a flowchart of an exemplary method ofoperating a first base station, e.g., a small coverage area basestation, in accordance with various exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 5B is a second part of a flowchart of an exemplary method ofoperating a first base station, e.g., a small coverage area basestation, in accordance with various exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary first base station, e.g., a smallcoverage area base station, in accordance with various exemplaryembodiments.

FIG. 7A illustrates a first portion of an assembly of modules which canbe, and sometimes is, used in the exemplary base station of FIG. 6.

FIG. 7B illustrates a second portion of an assembly of modules which canbe, and sometimes is, used in the exemplary base station of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary small coverage area base stationtransmitted discovery signal in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary UE device discovery signal in accordancewith various embodiments.

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary request signal from a small coveragearea base station to a macro base station in accordance with variousembodiments.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary small coverage area base stationinformation signal to a UE device including information about the smallcoverage area base station, e.g., a WiFi AP, in accordance with anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary small coverage area base stationinformation signal to a UE device including information about the smallcoverage area base station, e.g., a femto BS, in accordance with anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example of operating a small coverage area basestation, e.g., a WiFi access point, in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 14 illustrates an example of operating UE device in accordance withan exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a drawing illustrating some exemplary frequency bands andsome exemplary air link resources in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a drawing of an exemplary communications system 100 inaccordance with various exemplary embodiments. Exemplary communicationssystem 100 includes a macro base station 1 102, e.g., eNodeB 1 (eNB 1),with a corresponding macro cellular coverage area, macro cell 1 104.Exemplary communications system 100 further includes a plurality ofsmall coverage area base stations (small coverage area base station (BS)1 106, e.g., femto BS 1, small coverage area BS 2 108, e.g., femto BS 2,small coverage area BS 3 110, e.g., pico BS 1, small coverage area BS 4112, e.g., pico BS 2, small coverage area BS 5 114, e.g., WiFi accesspoint (AP) 1, small coverage area BS 6 118, e.g., WiFi AP 2, smallcoverage area BS 7 118, e.g., Bluetooth AP 1, small coverage area BS 8120, e.g., Bluetooth AP 2, . . . , small coverage area BS M 122), eachwith a corresponding coverage area. In some embodiments, the coveragearea corresponding to a small coverage area BS is less than or equal to50% of the coverage area of a macro cell with which the small coveragearea base station is located.

Exemplary communications system 100 further includes a network node 160,e.g., a mobility management entity (MME). The macro base station 102,small coverage area base stations (104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116,118, 120, . . . , 122), and network node 160, are coupled to othernodes, a backhaul network and/or the Internet, via links (103, 105, 107,109, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121, . . . , 123, 161), respectively. Invarious embodiments, system 100 further includes additional macro basestations, and additional small coverage area base stations locatedwithin the macro cells of the additional base stations. The additionalmacro base stations and additional small coverage area base stations arealso coupled to other network nodes, the backhaul network, and/or theInternet.

Exemplary system 100 includes a plurality of user equipment (UE)devices, e.g., mobile wireless terminals, (UE device 1 124, UE device 2126, UE device 3, 128, UE device 4 130, UE device 5 132, . . . , UEdevice n 134). Each of the UE devices (124, 126, 128, 1302, 132, . . . ,134) includes two of more modems, e.g., one modem for communicating withthe macro base station 102 using a first communications protocol, andone or more additional modems for communicating with small coverage areabase stations using different communications protocols. In someembodiments, different UE devices include different capabilities, e.g.,support different sets of communications protocols and/or supportcommunication in different sets of frequency bands.

In various embodiments, the small coverage area base stations and the UEdevices use the first frequency band and first communications protocolused by the macro base station for communicating information aboutanother communications protocols and/or another communications bandsused by the small coverage area base stations and/or UE devices. In somesuch embodiments, the first frequency band and first communicationsprotocol is used by UE devices and the small coverage area base stationsto communicate discovery information; however, user data signaling,e.g., traffic data signaling, which is communicated between a UE deviceand a small coverage area base station, uses at least one of a differentcommunications band than the first frequency band and a differentcommunications protocol than the first communications protocol. In someembodiments, the first frequency band and the first communicationsprotocol is used by UE devices and the small coverage area base stationsto communicate discovery information; however, user data signaling,e.g., traffic data signaling, which is communicated between a UE deviceand a small coverage area base station, uses at least one of: adifferent communications band than the first frequency band, a differentcommunications protocol than the first communications protocol, anddifferent communication resources than the communications resources usedby the macro base station.

Each small coverage area base station may be, e.g., one of: a femto cellbase station, a picocell base station, a microcell base station, a WiFiAP, or a Bluetooth AP. A macro cell base station serves as an attachmentpoint for at least some of the UEs in its coverage area, e.g., its macrocell. A macro base station 124 may, and in some embodiments is,implemented as an eNodeB. Femto cell base station is intended to be aterm which is not technology specific and can be used to refer to any ofa wide range of different types of femto cell base stations. Thecoverage area of the small coverage area base station is normally muchsmaller, e.g., less than 50% of the coverage area of the macro cell basestation. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, multiple small coverage area basestations may be within the coverage area of a single macro base station.The femto cell base stations in the present application are not intendedto be limited to a particular technology unless expressly identifiedusing a technology specific term. Femto cell base stations may beimplemented as HeNB (Home eNode B) cells in LTE while in 3GPPterminology a Home Node B (HNB) is a femto cell base station. In some,but not necessarily all, embodiments a femto cell base station has arange (radius) from the femto cell base station on the order of 10meters while a picocell base station has a range that is 200 meters orless. In some embodiments, a microcell base station has a range ofapproximate 12 meters. These ranges are considerably smaller than thetypical range of a macro cell base station which may have, and sometimesdoes have, a range up to 35 kilometers (approximately 22 miles). Whilesuch a large range is possible for a macro base station, smaller rangesare often used for the macro base station.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart 200 of an exemplary method of operating a userequipment (UE) device in accordance with various embodiments. Operationstarts in step 202, where the UE device is powered on and initialized.Operation proceeds from step 202 to step 204.

In step 204, the UE device monitors for discovery signals from smallcoverage area base stations using a first modem. Step 204 includes step206 in which the UE device receives at the first modem in the UE device,a discovery signal via a first frequency band from a small coverage areabase station, said discovery signal being in accordance with a firstcommunications protocol. In some embodiments, the discovery signal istransmitted by the small coverage area base station. In someembodiments, the discovery signal is generated by the small coveragearea base station and is communicated to the UE device via a macro basestation.

Operation proceeds from step 206 to step 208. In step 208 the UE deviceidentifies, based on the received discovery signal, a secondcommunications protocol and a second communications band used by thesmall coverage area base station which transmitted the discovery signal.In some embodiments, the discovery signal directly communicatesinformation identifying the second communications protocol andinformation identifying the second communications band. In someembodiments, the UE device decodes the received discovery signal torecover a small coverage area base station identifier, and then the UEdevice compares the recovered identifier to stored information in alook-up table in the UE device's memory to identify the secondcommunications protocol and the second communications band whichcorrespond to the small coverage area base station. In some embodiments,the UE device decodes the received discovery signal to recoveridentification information, and then the UE device communicates therecovered information to the macro base station, which, in response,transmits information communicating the second communications protocoland the second frequency band to the UE device. In some suchembodiments, the macro base station serves as an intermediary forcommunications between the UE device and the MME. Operation proceedsfrom step 208 to step 210.

In step 210 the UE determines if the UE device supports communicationsin the identified second communications band using the identified secondcommunications protocol and if the UE desires to attach to smallcoverage area base station which transmitted the received discoverysignal. If the UE device does not support communications in theidentified second communications band using the identified secondcommunications protocol or the UE device does not desire to attach tothe small coverage area base station, then operation proceeds from step210 to step 204 for additional monitoring to attempt to detect discoverysignals being transmitted by other small coverage area base stations.However, if the UE device supports communications in the identifiedsecond communications band using the identified second communicationsprotocol and the UE device desires to attach to the small coverage areabase station, then operation proceeds from step 210 to step 212.

In step 212, the UE device powers a second modem in said UE device inresponse to receiving a discovery signal. Operation proceeds from step212 to step 214. In step 214, the UE device operates the second modem toscan the second frequency band for a signal from the small coverage areabase station in accordance with said second communications protocol orto transmit a probe signal to said small coverage area base station insaid second frequency band, said probe signal being in accordance withsaid second communications protocol, said second communications protocolbeing different from said first communications protocol. In someembodiments, if no UE devices are attached to the small coverage areabase station, the small coverage area base station does not transmitinto the second frequency band, e.g., to conserve power and to reduceinterference. In some such embodiments, the probe signal from the UEdevice into the second frequency band wakes up the small coverage areabase station to an active state of operation. In some embodiments, theprobe signal transmitted by the UE device is an access request signaltransmitted, e.g., transmitted on a set of air link resources known toboth the UE and small coverage area base station. In some embodiments,particular air link resources to be used by the UE device forcommunications with the small coverage area base station, e.g., fordownlink and uplink signaling, were previously communicated to the UEdevice in the first frequency band and received via the first modemprior to step 212, e.g., from the macro cell base station or from thesmall coverage area base station. Operation proceeds from step 214 tostep 216.

In step 216, the UE device operates the second modem to communicate datawith said small coverage area base station using the secondcommunications protocol. Step 216 may, and sometimes does, include step218 in which the UE device operates the second modem to communicate datawith small coverage area base station while the first modem is used tocommunicate data with a macro base station. For example, in oneembodiments, the first modem, e.g., an LTE modem, of the UE device iscommunicating data with a macro cell base station using an LTE protocolin the first frequency band, while the second modem, e.g., a WiFi modem,of the UE device is communicating data with a WiFi access point using an802.11 protocol in the second communications band, and the first andsecond communications bands are different non-overlapping communicationsbands. In some embodiments, the UE device may, and sometimes does,operate the second modem to communicate data with the small coveragearea base station while the first modem is used to receive discoverysignals generated by a plurality of small coverage area base stations.

Operation proceeds from step 216 to step 218. In step 218 the UE devicedetermines whether or not communications have been terminated with thesmall coverage area base station. Termination of communications betweenthe UE device and the small coverage area base station may be for anyone of a number of reasons including: the UE device moving outside thecoverage area of the small coverage area base station, a decision by theUE device to terminate communications, e.g., a for lack of data tocommunicate, to conserve battery power, and/or due to a degradation inchannel conditions, a decision by the small coverage area base stationto terminate conditions, e.g., for a lack of data to communicate, due toloading conditions, and/or due to a degradation in channel conditions.

If the UE device determines in step 220, that communications with thesmall coverage area are still ongoing, then operation proceeds from step220 to step 216, in which the second modem communicates additional datawith the small coverage area base station using the secondcommunications protocol. However, if the UE device determines in step220 that communications have been terminated with the small coveragearea base station, then operation proceeds from step 220 to step 222, inwhich the UE device powers down the second modem. Operation proceedsfrom step 222 to step 204, in which the UE device monitors for discoverysignals from small coverage areas using the first modem.

In various embodiments, as part of initialization in step 202, the UEdevice powers up the first modem, e.g., fully or partially, and controlsthe second modem to remain powered down. In some embodiments, as part ofinitialization, in step 202, the UE device powers up a receiver portionof the first modem, and controls: the transmitter portion of the firstmodem, the receiver portion of the second modem, and the transmitterportion of the second modem to remain powered down. In some suchembodiments, the transmitter portion of the first modem is powered onwhen the UE device seeks to use a macro base station as an attachmentpoint.

In some embodiments, the first modem is configured for communicationwith a macro base station via the first frequency band. In someembodiments, the first frequency band is a licensed frequency band andthe second frequency band is an unlicensed frequency band. In someembodiments, the first communications protocol is a cellular wirelessradio protocol, e.g. an LTE protocol.

In some embodiments, the first modem is an LTE modem and the secondmodem is an 802.11 modem. In some other embodiments, the first modem isan LTE modem, and the second modem is a Bluetooth modem. In someembodiments, the first modem is an LTE modem, the first communicationsprotocol is an LTE protocol which supports peer to peer discovery, andthe discovery signal transmitted by the small coverage area base stationinto the first communications band is a LTE direct discovery signal.

In various embodiments, the first communications protocol is a timesynchronous protocol.

In some embodiments, the exemplary method further includes a step inwhich the UE device transmits a second discovery signal using the firstmodem in the first frequency band in accordance with the firstcommunications protocol. In some such embodiments, the second discoverysignal includes identification information of the UE device, capabilityof the second modem, and QoS requirements of the UE device.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary user equipment (UE) device 300, inaccordance with various embodiments. Exemplary UE device 300 can be usedas any one of the UE devices shown in FIG. 1. The exemplary UE device300 may, and sometimes does, implement a method in accordance withflowchart 200.

The UE device 200 includes a processor 302 and memory 304 coupledtogether via a bus 309 over which the various elements (302, 304) mayinterchange data and information. The UE device 300 further includes aninput/output module 306 which may be coupled to processor 302 as shown.

However, in some embodiments, the input/output module 306 is locatedinternal to the processor 302. The input/output module 306 in someembodiments includes a plurality of modems that support differenttechnologies and/or different frequency bands (modem 1 310, modem 2 316,. . . , modem N 318). Modem 1 310, e.g., an LTE modem, includes awireless receiver module 1 320 coupled to wireless communicationsreceive antenna 324 and a wireless transmitter module 1 322 coupled towireless communications transmit antenna 326. Modem 1 310 supports afirst communications protocol, e.g., a cellular wireless radio protocol.The wireless receiver module 1 320 of modem 1 310 is configured toreceive input over wireless communications links in a first frequencyband and the wireless transmitter module 1 922 is configured to transmitoutput over wireless communications links in the first frequency band.In some embodiments the first frequency band is a licensed frequencyband. In some embodiments the first frequency band is an LTE discoveryband. In some embodiments, the same antenna is used for both input andoutput wireless communications signaling.

Modem 2 316, e.g., a WiFi modem, includes a wireless receiver module 2328 coupled to a wireless communications receive antenna 330 and awireless transmitter module 2 332 coupled to a wireless communicationstransmit antenna 334. In various embodiments modem 2 316 supports aparticular communications protocol, e.g., a 802.11 communicationsprotocol. In some embodiments modem 2 316 supports a plurality ofrelated communications protocols, e.g., a set of 802.11 differentvariation communications protocol, and modem 2 316 is configured tocommunicate in a particular selected communications protocol. Thewireless receiver module 2 328 of modem 2 316 is configured to receiveinput over wireless communications links in a particular frequency bandand the wireless transmitter module 2 332 is configured to transmitoutput over wireless communications links in a particular frequencyband. In some embodiments the particular frequency band is an unlicensedfrequency band. In some embodiments, the same antenna is used for bothinput and output wireless communications signaling.

Modem N 318 includes a wireless receiver module N 336 coupled to awireless communications receive antenna 338 and a wireless transmittermodule N 340 coupled to a wireless communications transmit antenna 342.In various embodiments modem N 318 supports an Nth communicationsprotocol, e.g., Bluetooth communications protocol. The wireless receivermodule N 336 of modem N 318 is configured to receive input over wirelesscommunications links in a particular frequency band and the wirelesstransmitter module N 340 is configured to transmit output over wirelesscommunications links in a particular frequency band. In some embodimentsthe particular frequency band is an unlicensed frequency band. In someembodiments, the same antenna is used for both input and output wirelesscommunications signaling.

In some embodiments, the same antenna is used by multiple modems. Insome embodiments, the same antenna or pair of antennas is shared bymultiple modems, e.g., by modem 2 316 and modem 318. In someembodiments, the same antenna or pair of antennas is switched betweenmultiple modems, e.g., switched to the particular modem (316, . . . ,318) which is powered on.

In various embodiments, the first modem referred to in flowchart 200 ismodem 1 314; and the second modem referred to in flowchart 200 is oneselected modem of modems (modem 2 316, . . . modem N 318), and thesecond frequency band referred in flowchart 200 is the particularfrequency band corresponding to the selected modem. In variousembodiments, the first modem 314 can be, and sometime is, configured tooperate in a first frequency band which is the macro cell frequencyband, and one of the other modems (modem 2 316, . . . , modem N 318) canbe, and sometimes is, configured to operate in a different frequencyband, e.g., a different non-overlapping frequency band corresponding toa particular small coverage area base station. In some embodiments, eachof the modems (modem 1 314, modem 2, . . . , modem N) correspond todifferent frequency bands, e.g., different non-overlapping frequencybands. In some embodiments, the modem 1 314 can be, and sometimes is,configured to operate in different frequency bands at different times,e.g., an LTE macro cell band during some times, e.g., during discovery,and an LTE femto cell band during other times, e.g., while communicatingwith an LTE femto cell base station and communicating user data signals.

The input/output module 306 in some embodiments further includes a wiredand/or optical receiver module 312 for receiving input over a wiredand/or optical link and a wired and/or optical transmitter module 314for transmitting output signals over a wired and/or optical link. Memory304 includes routines 311, and data/information 313.

In some embodiments, processor 302 is configured to: operate a firstmodem to receive a discovery signal via a first frequency band from asmall coverage area base station, said discovery signal being inaccordance with a first communications protocol; power a second modem insaid UE device in response to receiving said discovery signal; andoperate said second modem to scan a second frequency band for a signalfrom said small coverage area base station in accordance with a secondcommunications protocol or transmit a probe signal to said smallcoverage area base station in said second frequency band, said probesignal being in accordance with said second communications protocol,said second communications protocol being different from said firstcommunications protocol.

In one exemplary embodiment, the first modem is an LTE modem; the smallcoverage area base station is a WiFi access point or Bluetooth accesspoint; the first communications protocol is an LTE protocol, e.g., anLTE protocol which supports peer to peer discovery; the discovery signalis an LTE direct discovery signal; and the second modem is one of a802.11 modem or Bluetooth modem.

In some embodiments, said first modem is configured for communicationwith a macro base station via the first frequency band. In some suchembodiments, processor 302 is further configured to: operate the secondmodem to communicate data with said small coverage area base stationwhile said first modem is used to communicate data with said macro basestation. In some embodiments, the first frequency band is a licensedfrequency band and the second frequency band is an unlicensed frequencyband. In some embodiments, the first protocol is a cellular wirelessradio protocol.

In some embodiments, processor 302 is configured to transmit a seconddiscovery signal using the first modem in the first frequency band inaccordance with the first communications protocol. In some suchembodiments, the second discovery signal includes identificationinformation of said UE device, capability information of said secondmodem, and QoS requirements of said UE device.

FIG. 4 is an assembly of modules 400 which can, and in some embodimentsis, used in the UE device 300 illustrated in FIG. 3. Assembly of modules400 can be implemented in hardware within the processor 302 of the UEdevice 300 of FIG. 3, e.g., as individual circuits. The modules in theassembly 400 can, and in some embodiments are, implemented fully inhardware within the processor 302, e.g., as individual circuits. Inother embodiments some of the modules are implemented, e.g., ascircuits, within the processor 302 with other modules being implemented,e.g., as circuits, external to and coupled to the processor. As shouldbe appreciated the level of integration of modules on the processorand/or with some modules being external to the processor may be one ofdesign choice. In some but not necessarily all embodiments some modulesare implemented in the processor 302 with the other modules beingimplemented in the processor and/or external to the processor 302.

Alternatively, rather than being implemented as circuits, all or some ofthe modules may be implemented in software and stored in the memory 304of the UE device 300 with the modules controlling operation of the UEdevice 300 to implement the functions corresponding to the modules whenthe modules are executed by a processor, e.g., processor 302. In somesuch embodiments, the assembly of modules 400 is included in routines311 of memory 304 of the UE device 300 of FIG. 3. In still otherembodiments, various modules are implemented as a combination ofhardware and software, e.g., with a sensor or another circuit externalto the processor providing input to the processor 302 which then undersoftware control operates to perform a portion of a module's function.

While shown in the FIG. 3 embodiment as a single processor, e.g.,computer, it should be appreciated that the processor 302 may beimplemented as one or more processors, e.g., computers.

When implemented in software the modules include code, which whenexecuted by the processor 302, configure the processor 302 to implementthe function corresponding to the module. In embodiments where theassembly of modules 400 is stored in the memory 304, the memory 304 is acomputer program product comprising a computer readable mediumcomprising code, e.g., individual code for each module, for causing atleast one computer, e.g., processor 302, to implement the functions towhich the modules correspond.

Completely hardware based or completely software based modules may beused. However, it should be appreciated that any combination of softwareand hardware, e.g., circuit implemented modules may be used to implementthe functions. As should be appreciated, the modules illustrated in FIG.4 control and/or configure the UE device 300 or elements therein such asthe processor 302, to perform the functions of the corresponding stepsillustrated in the method flow chart 200 of FIG. 2.

The assembly of modules 400 includes a module corresponding to each stepof the method shown in FIG. 2. The module in FIG. 4 which performs orcontrols the processor 302 to perform a corresponding step shown in FIG.2 is identified with a number beginning with a 4 instead of beginningwith 2. For example module 404 corresponds to step 204 and isresponsible for performing the operation described with regard to step204.

Assembly of module 400 includes a module 402 configured to initializethe UE device, a module 404 configured to monitor for discovery signalsfrom small coverage area base stations using a first modem. Module 404includes a module 406 configured to receive at a first modem in the UEdevice a discovery signal via a first frequency band from a smallcoverage area base station, said discovery signal being in accordancewith a first communications protocol.

Assembly of modules 400 further includes a module 408 configured toidentify, based on the received discovery signal, a secondcommunications protocol and a second communications band used by thesmall coverage area base station which transmitted the discovery signal,a module 410 configured to determine if the UE device supportscommunications in the identified second communications band using theidentified second communications protocol and if the UE device desiresto attach to the small coverage area base station. Assembly of modules400 further includes a module 412 configured to power a second modem insaid UE device in response to receiving said discovery signal, a module414 configured to operate the second modem to scan the second frequencyband for a signal from said small coverage area base station in saidsecond frequency band in accordance with a second communicationsprotocol or to transmit a probe signal to said small coverage area basestation in accordance with said second communications protocol, saidsecond communication protocol being different from said firstcommunications protocol. Assembly of modules 400 further includes amodule 416 configured to operate the second modem to communicate datawith said second small coverage area base station using the secondcommunications protocol. Module 416 includes a module 418 configured tooperate the second modem to communicate data with the small coveragearea base station while the first modem is used to communicate data witha macro base station.

Assembly of modules 400 further includes a module 420 configured todetermine if the communication have been terminated with the smallcoverage area base station, and a module 422 configured to power downthe second modem in response to a determination that communications havebeen terminated with the small coverage area base station.

In some embodiments, assembly of modules 400 further includes a module424 configured to transmit a second discovery signal using the firstmodem in the first frequency band in accordance with the firstcommunications protocol. In some such embodiments, the second discoverysignal includes identification information of the UE device, capabilityof the second modem, and QoS requirements of the UE device.

In some embodiments, the first modem is configured for communicationwith a macro base station via the first frequency band. In someembodiments, said first frequency band is a licensed frequency band; andsaid second frequency band is an unlicensed frequency band. In variousembodiments, the first protocol is a cellular wireless radio protocol.In various embodiments, the first communications protocol is a timesynchronous protocol.

FIG. 5, comprising the combination of FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, is aflowchart 500 of an exemplary method of operating a first base inaccordance with various embodiments. In various embodiments, the firstbase station is a small coverage area base station. The first basestation is, e.g., one of a femto base station, pico base station, microbase station, WiFi access point and Bluetooth access point. Operationstarts in step 502, in which the first base station, e.g., a smallcoverage area base station, is powered on and initialized. In variousembodiments, a part of initialization the first base station powers on areceiver module, e.g., a receiver module in a first modem of the firstbase station. In some such embodiments, as part of initialization thefirst base station controls a transmitter module, e.g., a transmittermodule in a first modem in the first base station, to be powered off. Insome embodiments, as part of initialization, the first base stationcontrols the first base station to be placed in a low power mode ofoperation. Operation proceeds from step 502 to step 504. In step 504,the first base station monitors a first frequency band used by a secondbase station to detect a signal transmitted by a UE device in the firstfrequency band. The signal transmitted by a UE device is, e.g., adiscovery signal that includes identification information of the UEdevice. In some embodiments, the second base station is a macro cellbase station in whose cell the first base station is located. In someembodiments, the first frequency band is a frequency band used by thesecond base station, e.g., macro base station, but which is not used bythe first base station to communicate user data, e.g., traffic datasignals. Step 504, is performed on an ongoing basis. In someembodiments, the monitoring of step 504 is performed during a low powermode of operation in which the first base station controls a transmittermodule, e.g., a transmitter module in a first modem, in the first basestation to be powered off.

Step 504, may, and sometimes does, include step 506, in which the firstbase station detects a signal transmitted by a UE device in the firstfrequency band. In some embodiments, the first frequency band is a macrofrequency band. In some such embodiments, the first frequency band is amacro uplink frequency band.

In some embodiments, operation proceeds from step 506 to step 508. Inother embodiments, operation proceeds from step 506 to step 510.

Returning to step 508, in step 508 the first base station switches, inresponse to detecting a signal transmitted by the UE device in the firstfrequency band, from a low power mode of operation in which atransmitter module in the first base station is powered off to a higherpower mode of operation in which both a receiver module and thetransmitter module is powered on. Operation proceeds from step 508 tostep 510.

In step 510 the first base station communicates information about thefirst base station to the UE device in response to detecting a signaltransmitted by a UE device in the first frequency band. In someembodiments, the information about the first base station includes firstbase station identification information. In some embodiments, theinformation about the first base station including informationidentifying a communications protocol used by the first base station tocommunicate information including user data, e.g., traffic data. In someembodiments, the information about the first base station includesinformation identifying a frequency band used by the first base stationto communicate information including user data, e.g., traffic data. Insome embodiments, the information about the first base station includesinformation indicating communications resources, e.g., frequency and/ortime slot, which can be used to access the first base station. In someembodiments the information about the first base station includesinformation about the authorization and authentication such asencryption keys. In some embodiments, the information about the firstbase station includes information of a second frequency band and asecond communications protocol. In some such embodiments, the secondfrequency band is used by the first base station to transmit or receiveuser data. In various embodiments, step 510 includes one of step 512 andstep 514.

In step 512 the first base station sends a signal to the second basestation requesting said second base station to transmit informationabout the first base station to the UE device. Thus, in someembodiments, information about the first base station is communicated tothe UE device via the second base station, e.g., the macro cell basestation, in response to a request from the first base station. In someembodiments, the signal to the second base station includes informationincluding an identifier corresponding to said UE device to betransmitted in a unicast message from said second base station, e.g.,macro cell base station, to the UE device. In step 514, the first basestation transmits the information about the first base station to the UEdevice in a frequency band which is not used by the first base stationto transmit or receive user data. In some embodiments, the frequencyband which is not used by the first base station to transmit or receiveuser data is a downlink frequency band used by the second base station,e.g., the macro cell downlink frequency band. Thus in some embodiments,the first base station, e.g., the small coverage area base station, usesthe macro cell downlink frequency band to communicate the informationabout the first base station, e.g., information such that the UE devicecan configure itself and communicate with the first base station usingthe frequency band and/or particular technology modem that the firstbase station uses for communicating user data, e.g., traffic data. Insome other embodiments, the first frequency band is an uplink frequencyband used by the second base station.

In some embodiments, operation proceeds from step 510, via connectingnode A 516, to step 520. In some other embodiments, operation proceedsfrom step 510 via connecting node B 518 to step 532.

In some embodiments, e.g., some embodiments in which the first basestation is a small coverage area base station which uses the sametechnology type modem as the macro base station, the exemplary methodincludes steps 520, 522, 524, 526, 528, and 530. For example, the firstbase station is an LTE femto base station, and the macro base station,in whose macro cell the first base station is located, is an LTE macrobase station, and the femto cell and macro cell use different frequencybands, e.g., with regard to traffic signaling with UE devices.

In some embodiments, e.g., some embodiments in which the first basestation is a small coverage area base station which includes twodifferent technology type modems, the exemplary method includes steps532, 534, 536, 538, 540, 542, 544, and 546. For example the first basestation is a WiFi access point located within the coverage area of anLTE macro cell base station, and first base station includes an LTEmodem used for communicating discovery signals to UE device and/ordetecting signals transmitted by UE device in a first communicationsband and a 802.11 WiFi modem used for signaling including user data,e.g., traffic data, in a second communications band. In another examplethe first base station is a Bluetooth access point located within thecoverage area of an LTE macro cell base station, and first base stationincludes an LTE modem used for communicating discovery signals to UEdevice and/or detecting signals transmitted by UE device in a firstcommunications band and a Bluetooth modem used for signaling includinguser data, e.g., traffic data, in a second communications band. In stillanother example the first base station is a femto base station locatedwithin the coverage area of an LTE macro cell base station, and firstbase station includes an LTE modem used for discovery in a firstcommunications band and a CDMA modem used for signaling including userdata, e.g., traffic data, in a second communications band.

Returning to step 520, in step 520, the first base station resets thefrequency setting of a first modem in the first base station. Forexample, the first base station, e.g., an LTE femto cell base station,resets the frequency setting of an LTE modem from the frequency settingused by the macro base station for macro communications to a frequencysetting used by the first base station for femto cell communicationsincluding femto cell traffic signaling. Operation proceeds from step 520to step 522

In step 522 the first base station communicates with the UE device usingthe first modem. Operation proceeds from step 522 to step 524. In step524, the first base station determines if communications with the UEdevice has been terminated. If communications with the UE device havenot been terminated, then operation proceeds from step 524, to step 522for additional communications with the UE device using the first modem.However, if communications with the UE device have been terminated,e.g., for any of a number of possible reasons, then operation proceedsfrom step 524 to step 526. Some exemplary reasons for terminationinclude: the UE device moved outside the coverage area of the first basestation, channel conditions between the UE device and the first basestation deteriorated, the UE device and/or the first base station doesnot have additional traffic data to communicate, the UE device wishes toconserve remaining battery power, and the first base station is heavilyloaded. In step 526, the first base station determines if the first basestation is communicating with other UE devices. If the determination ofstep 526 is that the first base station is communicating with other UEdevices, then operation proceeds from step 526 to step 528, in which thefirst base station continues to keep the transmitter module of the firstmodem powered on. Operation proceeds from step 528 to the input of step526. If the determination of step 526 is that the first base station isnot communicating with other UE devices, then operation proceeds fromstep 526 to step 530, in which the first base station powers down thetransmitter module of the first modem.

Returning to step 532, in step 532 the first base station switches offthe transmitter module in the first base station, e.g., the transmittermodule in the first modem of the first base station. Operation proceedsfrom step 532 to step 534. In step 534 the first base station determinesif a second modem in said first base station is powered on. If thedetermination of step 534 is that the second modem is not powered on,then operation proceeds from step 534 to step 536; otherwise operationproceeds from step 534 to step 538. Retuning to step 536, in step 536the first base station powers up the second modem. Operation proceedsfrom step 536 to step 538.

In step 538 the first base station communicates with said UE deviceusing said second modem. Operation proceeds from step 538 to step 540.In step 540, the first base station determines if communications withthe UE device has been terminated. If communications with the UE devicehave not been terminated, then operation proceeds from step 540, to step538 for additional communications with the UE device using the secondmodem. However, if communications with the UE device have beenterminated, e.g., for any of a number of possible reasons, thenoperation proceeds from step 540 to step 542. Some exemplary reasons fortermination include: the UE device moved outside the coverage area ofthe first base station, channel conditions between the UE device and thefirst base station deteriorated, the UE device and/or the first basestation does not have additional traffic data to communicate, the UEdevice wishes to conserve remaining battery power, and the first basestation is heavily loaded. In step 542, the first base stationdetermines if the first base station is communicating with other UEdevices using the second modem. If the determination of step 526 is thatthe first base station is communicating with other UE devices using thesecond modem, then operation proceeds from step 542 to step 544, inwhich the first base station continues to keep the second modem poweredon. Operation proceeds from step 544 to the input of step 542. If thedetermination of step 542 is that the first base station is notcommunicating with other UE devices using the second modem, thenoperation proceeds from step 542 to step 546, in which the first basestation powers down the second modem.

In some embodiments, step 504 is performed continuously. In some otherembodiments, step 506 is performed periodically.

FIG. 6 is a drawing of an exemplary first base station 600, e.g., asmall coverage area base station, in accordance with various exemplaryembodiments. In some embodiments, first base station 600, is a smallcoverage area base station and is one of: a femto base station, a picobase station, a micro base station, a WiFi access point, and a Bluetoothaccess point. Exemplary first base station 400, is, e.g., one of thesmall coverage area base stations (106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118,120, 122) of system 100 of FIG. 1. The exemplary first base station 600may, and sometimes does, implement a method in accordance with flowchart500 of FIG. 5.

The first base station 600 includes a processor 602 and memory 604coupled together via a bus 609 over which the various elements (602,604) may interchange data and information. The first base station 600further includes an input/output module 606 which may be coupled toprocessor 602 as shown.

However, in some embodiments, the input/output module 606 is locatedinternal to the processor 602. The input/output module 606 includes afirst modem, modem 1 610, e.g., an LTE modem. In some embodiments, theinput/output module 606 further includes a second modem, modem 2 616,e.g., one of a 802.11 WiFi modem and a Bluetooth modem. In anotherexample, modem 1 610 is an LTE modem and modem 2 612 is a CDMA modem.

Modem 1 610 includes a wireless receiver module 620 coupled to wirelesscommunications receive antenna 624 and a wireless transmitter module 622coupled to wireless communications transmit antenna 626. Modem 1 610supports a first communications protocol, e.g., a cellular wirelessradio protocol. The wireless receiver module 620 of modem 1 610 isconfigured to receive wireless signals and process received wirelesssignals using the first communications protocol, and the wirelesstransmitter module 622 is configured to generate and transmit wirelesssignals using the first communications protocol. In one example, thecommunications protocol used by modem 1 6120 is an LTE protocol. In someembodiments, modem 1 610 is configured to operate in a first frequencyband, e.g., a licensed cellular communications band. In someembodiments, modem 1 610 can be, and sometimes is, configured to operatein different frequency bands at different times, e.g., a macro cellularband during some times and a femto cellular band during other times. Invarious embodiments, modem 1 406 operates using one or more licensedfrequency bands. In some embodiments, the same antenna is used for bothinput and output wireless communications signaling.

Modem 2 616 includes a wireless receiver module 628 coupled to awireless communications receive antenna 630 and a wireless transmittermodule 632 coupled to a wireless communications transmit antenna 634. Invarious embodiments modem 2 616 supports a second communicationsprotocol, e.g., an 802.11 communications protocol or a WiFicommunications protocol. In another example, the second communicationsprotocol supported by module 2 616 is a CDMA protocol. The wirelessreceiver module 2 628 of modem 2 616 is configured to receive input overwireless communications links in a second frequency band and thewireless transmitter module 2 632 is configured to transmit output overwireless communications links in the second frequency band. In someembodiments the second frequency band is an unlicensed frequency band.In some other embodiments the second frequency band is an licensedfrequency band.

The input/output module 606 further includes a wired and/or opticalreceiver module 612 for receiving input over a wired and/or optical linkand a wired and/or optical transmitter module 614 for transmittingoutput signals over a wired and/or optical link. The wired and/oroptical receiver module 612 and the wired and/or optical transmittermodule 614 are coupled to other nodes and/or to a backhaul, and/or tothe Internet via link 642. Memory 604 includes routines 611, anddata/information 613.

In various embodiments, processor 602 is configured to: monitor a firstfrequency band used by a second base station to detect a signaltransmitted by a UE device in said first frequency band; and communicateinformation about said first base station to said UE device in responseto said monitoring detecting a signal transmitted by a UE device in saidfirst frequency band. In some such embodiments, first frequency band isa frequency band used by said second base station but which is not usedby said first base station to communicate user data. In variousembodiments, processor 602 is configured to detect a signal transmittedby the UE device in the first frequency band.

In some embodiments, said information about said first base stationincludes first base station identification information. In some suchembodiments, said information about said first base station furtherincludes information indicating communications resources, e.g., afrequency and/or time slot, which can be used to access said first basestation. In some embodiments, the information about the first basestation includes information identifying a particular communicationstechnology, e.g., LTE, WiFi, etc. In some embodiments, the informationabout the first base station includes information identifying aparticular communications protocol. In some embodiments, the informationabout the first base station includes information identifying acommunications band, e.g., a second communications band, used forsignaling between the first base station an UE devices, said signalingincluding user data, e.g. traffic data signals. In some embodiments, theinformation about the first base station includes information about theauthorization and authentication such as encryption keys. In someembodiments, the information about the first base station includesinformation of a second frequency band and a second communicationsprotocol. In some such embodiments, the second frequency band is used bythe first base station to transmit or receive user data.

In various embodiments, processor 602 is configured to send a signal tosaid second base station to cause said second base station to transmitsaid information to said UE device, as part of being configured tocommunicating information about said first base station to said UEdevice. In some such embodiments, said signal to said second basestation includes a information including a UE device identifiercorresponding to said UE device to be transmitted via a unicasttransmission from said second base station to said UE device.

In various embodiments, processor 602 is configured to transmit saidinformation to said UE device in a frequency band which is not used bysaid first base station to transmit or receive user data, as part ofbeing configured to communicate information about said first basestation to said UE device. In some such embodiments, said frequency bandis a frequency band used by the second base station. In some suchembodiments, said first frequency band is a downlink frequency band usedby said second base station.

In various embodiments, processor 602 is configured to: perform saidmonitoring during a low power mode of operation in which said first(femto) base station controls a transmitter module in said first basestation to be powered off; and processor 602 is configured to switch, inresponse to detecting a signal transmitted by said UE device in saidfirst frequency band from said low power mode of operation to a higherpower mode of operation in which said first base station powers both areceiver module and a transmitter module.

In some embodiments, the first base station is a WiFi access point. Insome other embodiments, the first base station is a Bluetooth accesspoint.

In some other embodiments, the first base station is one of a femto basestation, pico base station and micro base station. In some suchembodiments, the first base station, e.g., a femto cell base station,uses the same communications protocol as the second base station, e.g.,macro cell base station, in whose cell it is located, e.g., both macroand femto cells use LTE but use different communications bands forsignals including user data, e.g., traffic data signals. In some othersuch embodiments, the first base station, e.g., a femto cell basestation, uses a different communications protocol as the second basestation, e.g., macro cell base station, in whose cell it is located,e.g., the femto cell uses CDMA and the macro cell uses LTE.

In some embodiments, processor 602 is configured to reset the frequencysetting of a first modem in the first base station, e.g., so that firstbase station can communicate with the UE device in a second frequencyband which is different than said first frequency band using the firstmodem. In some embodiments, processor 602 is configured to communicatewith the UE device using the first modem in the second communicationsband. In some embodiments, processor 602 is configured to determine ifcommunications with the UE device has been terminated. In some suchembodiments, processor 602 is configured to perform additionalcommunications with the UE device via the first modem using the secondcommunications band, if the determination is that communications withthe UE device have not been terminated. In various embodiments,processor 602 is configured to determine if the first base station iscommunicating with other UE devices using the first modem and the secondcommunications band. In some embodiments, processor 602 is configured tokeep the transmitter module of the first modem powered on if thedetermination is that the first base station is communicating with atleast one UE device. In some embodiments, processor 602 is configured topower down the transmitter module of the first modem, if it isdetermined that the first base station is no longer communicating withany UE devices via the first modem in the second communications band.

In some embodiments, processor 602 is configured to switches off thetransmitter module in the first base station, e.g., the transmittermodule in the first modem of the first base station, e.g., as the firstbase station intends to communicate with the UE device using a secondmodem in the first base station. In some embodiments, processor 602 isconfigured to determine if a second modem in said first base station ispowered on. In some embodiments, processor 602 is configured to powersup the second modem, when it is determined that the second modem is notpowered on and the first base station intends to communicate with the UEdevice and said communications include communicating user data, e.g.,traffic data.

In various embodiments, processor 602 is configured to communicates withsaid UE device using said second modem, e.g., using a secondcommunications band which is different from the first communicationsband. In some embodiments, processor 602 is configured to determine ifcommunications with the UE device has been terminated. In some suchembodiments, processor 602 is configured to perform additionalcommunications with the UE device using the second modem if it isdetermined that communications have not been terminated. In someembodiments, processor 602 is configured to determine if the first basestation is communicating with other UE devices using the second modem,if it has been determined that communications have been terminatedbetween the first base station and the UE device. In some embodiments,processor 602 is configured to keep the second modem powered on, when itis determined that at least one UE device is still communicating withthe first base station using the second modem. In some embodiments,processor 602 is configured to power down the second modem, when it isdetermined that no UE devices are still communicating with the firstbase station using the second modem.

FIG. 7, comprising the combination of FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, is anassembly of modules 700 which can, and in some embodiments is, used inthe first base station 600 illustrated in FIG. 6. Assembly of modules700 can be implemented in hardware within the processor 602 of the basestation 600 of FIG. 6, e.g., as individual circuits. The modules in theassembly 700 can, and in some embodiments are, implemented fully inhardware within the processor 602, e.g., as individual circuits. Inother embodiments some of the modules are implemented, e.g., ascircuits, within the processor 602 with other modules being implemented,e.g., as circuits, external to and coupled to the processor. As shouldbe appreciated the level of integration of modules on the processorand/or with some modules being external to the processor may be one ofdesign choice. Alternatively, rather than being implemented as circuits,all or some of the modules may be implemented in software and stored inthe memory 604 of the first base station 600 with the modulescontrolling operation of the base station 600 to implement the functionscorresponding to the modules when the modules are executed by aprocessor, e.g., processor 602. In some such embodiments, the assemblyof modules 600 is included in routines 611 of memory 604 of first basestation 600 of FIG. 6. In still other embodiments, various modules areimplemented as a combination of hardware and software, e.g., with asensor or another circuit external to the processor providing input tothe processor 602 which then under software control operates to performa portion of a module's function.

While shown in the FIG. 6 embodiment as a single processor, e.g.,computer, it should be appreciated that the processor 602 may beimplemented as one or more processors, e.g., computers.

When implemented in software the modules include code, which whenexecuted by the processor 602, configure the processor 602 to implementthe function corresponding to the module. In embodiments where theassembly of modules 700 is stored in the memory 604, the memory 604 is acomputer program product comprising a computer readable mediumcomprising code, e.g., individual code for each module, for causing atleast one computer, e.g., processor 602, to implement the functions towhich the modules correspond.

Completely hardware based or completely software based modules may beused. However, it should be appreciated that any combination of softwareand hardware, e.g., circuit implemented modules may be used to implementthe functions. As should be appreciated, the modules illustrated in FIG.7 control and/or configure the first base station 600 or elementstherein such as the processor 602, to perform the functions of thecorresponding steps illustrated in the method flowchart 500 of FIG. 5.

The assembly of modules 700 includes a module corresponding to each stepof the method shown in FIG. 5. The module in FIG. 7 which performs orcontrols the processor 602 to perform a corresponding step shown in FIG.5 is identified with a number beginning with a 7 instead of beginningwith 5. For example module 704 corresponds to step 504 and isresponsible for performing the operation described with regard to step504.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the assembly of modules 700, comprising thecombination of Part A 701 and Part B 703, includes a module 702configured to initialize the first base station, a module 704 configuredto monitor a first frequency band used by a second base station todetect a signal transmitted by a user equipment (UE) device in the firstfrequency band. Module 704 includes a module configured to detect asignal transmitted by a UE device in the first frequency band. Assemblyof modules 700 further includes a module 708 configured to switch, inresponse to detecting a signal transmitted by a UE device in the firstfrequency band, from a low power mode of operation in which atransmitter module in the first base station is powered off to a higherpower mode of operation in which both a receiver module and atransmitter module is powered on, and a module 710 configured tocommunicate information about the first base station to the UE device inresponse to detecting a signal transmitted by a UE device in the firstfrequency band. In some embodiments, module 710 includes a module 712configured to send a signal to the second base station requesting saidsecond base station to transmit information about the first base stationto the UE device or a module 714 configured to transmit the informationabout the first base station to the UE device in a frequency band whichis not used by the first base station to transmit or receive user data.

In various embodiments, the first communications band, e.g., a macrocellular communications band is used by the first base station tocommunicate information about the first base station. The communicateddiscovery information in some embodiments, includes informationidentifying a second communications band, e.g., a femto cellcommunications band to be used for communicating user data, e.g.,traffic data, with a UE device.

In some embodiments, the first frequency band is macro frequency bandused by the second base station, e.g., a macro base station. In somesuch embodiments, the first frequency band is a macro uplink frequencyband. In some embodiments, the first frequency band is a frequency bandused by said second base station but which is not used by said firstbase station to communicate user data.

In some embodiments, said information about said first base station,communicated by module 710, includes first base station identificationinformation. In some such embodiments, said information about said firstbase station further includes information indicating communicationsresources, e.g., a frequency and/or time slot, which can be used toaccess said first base station. In some embodiments the informationabout the first base station includes information about theauthorization and authentication such as encryption keys. In someembodiments, the information about the first base station includesinformation of a second frequency band and a second communicationsprotocol. In some such embodiments, the second frequency band is used bythe first base station to transmit or receive user data. In someembodiments, said signal to said second base station, sent by module512, includes information including a UE device identifier correspondingto said UE device to be transmitted via a unicast transmission from saidsecond base station to said UE device.

In some embodiments, said first frequency band is a downlink frequencyband used by said second base station. In some other embodiments, thefirst frequency band is an uplink frequency band used by said secondbase station.

In some embodiments, module 704 perform monitoring during a low powermode of operation in which said first base station controls atransmitter module in said first base station to be powered off.

In various embodiments, said first base station is a small coverage areabase station. In some embodiments, said first base station, is a WiFiaccess point. In some embodiments, said first base station is aBluetooth access point. In some embodiments, said first base station isone of a femto base station, pico base station, and micro base station.

In some embodiments, e.g., some embodiments in which first base station600 uses the modem 1 610 to communicate in a macro cell communicationsband and a small coverage area, e.g., femto cell communications band, atdifferent times, assembly of modules 700 includes one or more or all ofmodules: 720, 722, 724, 725, 726, 728, and 730. Thus, in someembodiments, assembly of modules 700 includes a module 720 configured toreset the frequency setting of a first modem in the first base station,e.g., from a first frequency band to a second frequency band, a module722 configured to communicate with said UE device using the first modem,e.g. using the second frequency band, a module 724 configured todetermine if communications with the UE device have been terminated, amodule 725 configured to control the first base station to continuecommunicating with the UE device via the first modem when it isdetermined that communication with the UE device have not beenterminated, a module 726 configured to determine if the first basestation is communicating with other UE devices via the first modem, amodule 728 configured to control the first base station to keep thefirst modem powered on if it is determined that the first base stationis communicating with other UE devices via the first modem, and a module730 configured to control the first base station to power down thetransmitter module of the first modem if it is determined that the firstbase station has terminated communication with the UE device and is notcommunicating with other UE devices via the first modem.

In various embodiments, the first communications band, e.g., a macrocellular communications band is used by the first base station tocommunicate information about the first base station. The communicateddiscovery information in some embodiments, includes informationidentifying a second communications band, e.g., a femto cellcommunications band to be used for communicating user data, e.g.,traffic data, with a UE device.

In some embodiments, e.g., some embodiments in which first base station600 uses modem 1 610, e.g., an LTE modem and modem 2 616, e.g., WiFimodem or Bluetooth modem or CDMA modem, assembly of modules 700 includesone or more or all of modules: 732, 734, 736, 738, 740, 741, 742, 744and 746. Thus, in some embodiments, assembly of modules 700 includes amodule 732 configured to switch off said transmitter module in the firstbase station, e.g. the transmitter module in the first modem, a module734 configured to determine if the a second modem in the first basestation is powered on, a module 736 configured to power up a secondmodem in the first base station, e.g. to support communication betweenthe first base station and the UE device, said communications includinguser data signals, e.g., traffic data signals, and a module 738configured to communicate with said UE device using the second modem, amodule 740 configured to determine if communications with the UE devicehave been terminated, a module 741 configured to control the first basestation to continue communicating with UE device via the second modemwhen it is determined that communications with the UE device have notbeen terminated, a module 742 configured to determine if the first basestation is communicating with other UE devices via the second modem, amodule 744 configured to control the first base station to keep thesecond modem powered on if it is determined that the first base stationis communicating with any UE devices via the second modem, and a module746 configured to control the first base station to power down thesecond module if it is determined that the first base station hasterminated communication with the UE device and is not communicatingwith other UE devices via the second modem.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary small coverage area base stationtransmitted discovery signal 800 in accordance with various embodiments.Exemplary signal 800 is, e.g., a discovery signal which is received bythe first modem of a UE device in step 206 of flowchart 200 of FIG. 2.In some embodiments, discovery signal 800 is a message with multiplefields communicating different information in the different fields.Exemplary discovery signal 800 includes small coverage area base stationidentity information 802, e.g., a small coverage base station identifiersuch as a SSID of an WiFi AP or a cell ID of a femto cell, and smallcoverage area base station type information 804, e.g., informationidentifying the type of the small coverage area base station as one of:a femto base station, pico base station, a micro base station, a WiFiAP, or a Bluetooth AP, communications band information 806, e.g.,information identifying a band or bands used by the small coverage areabase station, e.g., a WiFi band, and/or carrier informationcorresponding to the small coverage area base station, e.g., a femtocell carrier. Exemplary discovery signal 800 further includescommunications protocol information 808, e.g., information identifying aprotocol to be used by the small coverage area base station forcommunications in the communications band identified by information 806,e.g., an LTE protocol, an 802.11 protocol or a Bluetooth protocol.Exemplary signal 800 further includes system information 810 includingaccess information. System information 810 includes, e.g., any of thefollowing: key information, information identifying air link resourcestructure including particular air link resources used for accessing thesmall coverage area base station, information communicating systemparameters, e.g., master information block (MIB) and system informationblock (SIB) information. Exemplary signal 800 further includesadditional information 812.

In another example, discovery signal 800 is transmitted in step 514 offlowchart 500 by the first base station, which is a small coverage areabase station.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary UE device discovery signal 900 inaccordance with various embodiments. Exemplary discovery signal 900 is,e.g., the signal which is detected in step 506 of flowchart 500 of FIG.5 by the first base station, e.g., a small coverage area base station.In some embodiments, discovery signal 900 is a message with multiplefields communicating different information in the different fields.Exemplary discovery signal 900 includes UE device identify information902, e.g., a shortened temporary mobile subscriber ID (S-TMSI), UEdevice capability information 904, e.g., information identifying themodems that the UE device supports, e.g., information identifying thatthe UE device includes modems for Long Term Evolution (LTE), WiFi andBluetooth, a network identifier 906, e.g., a public land mobile network(PLMN) identifier, and information identifying a type or level ofQuality of Service (QoS) required by the UE device 908. Exemplary signal900 further includes additional information 910.

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary request signal 1000 from a smallcoverage area base station to a macro base station in accordance withvarious embodiments. Exemplary request signal 1000 is, e.g., the signaltransmitted to the second base station, e.g., a macro base station, instep 512 of flowchart 500 of FIG. 5 by the first base station, e.g., asmall coverage area base station. In some embodiments, request signal1000 is a message with multiple fields communicating differentinformation in the different fields. Exemplary request signal 1000includes source information 1002, e.g., information identifying thesmall coverage area base which transmitted signal 1000, destinationinformation 1004, e.g., information identifying the macro base stationto which the signal is directed, information 1006 requesting that themacro base station transmit information about the small coverage areabase station to a UE device, and a UE identifier 1008 identifying theparticular UE device to which the information about the small coveragearea base station is to be sent. Exemplary signal 1000 further includesadditional information 1012.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary small coverage area base stationinformation signal 1100 to a UE device including information about thesmall coverage area base station, e.g., a WiF AP, in accordance with anexemplary embodiment. Exemplary signal 1100 includes source information1102, e.g., information identifying a macro base station or the smallcoverage area base station which is transmitting signal 1102,destination information 1104, e.g., information identifying the UEdevice to which the communicated small coverage area base stationinformation is to be delivered, information communicating a band used bythe access point 1106, e.g., information identifying a WiFi band,information communicating the SSID of the AP 1108, and key information1110, e.g., a WiFi Protected Access (WPA) key. Exemplary signal 1100further includes additional information 1112. In some embodiments, e.g.,some embodiments in which the small coverage area base station transmitssignal 1100, signal 1100 includes intermediate destination information1103 identifying an intermediate node via which information about thesmall coverage area base station is forwarded, e.g., informationidentifying the macro base station in which the small coverage area basestation is located. In one exemplary embodiment, signal 1100 is thesignal generated and transmitted by a macro base station in response toa received request signal 1000, which was transmitted by the smallcoverage area base station in step 512 of flowchart 500 of FIG. 5. Inanother exemplary embodiment, signal 1110 is the signal which isgenerated by the small coverage area base station and transmitted instep 514 of flowchart 500 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary small coverage area base stationinformation signal 1200 to a UE device including information about thesmall coverage area base station, e.g., a femto BS, in accordance withan exemplary embodiment. Exemplary signal 1200 includes sourceinformation 1202, e.g., information identifying a macro base station orthe small coverage area base station which is transmitting signal 1200,destination information 1204, e.g., information identifying the UEdevice to which the communicated small coverage area base stationinformation is to be delivered, information 1206 communicating carrierinformation of the small coverage area base station, e.g., carrierinformation of the femto base station, information 1208 communicating acell ID of the small coverage area base station, e.g., a cell ID of thefemto BS, and system information 1210, e.g., MIB and SIB informationcorresponding to the small coverage area BS. In some embodiments, e.g.,some embodiments in which the small coverage area base station transmitssignal 1200, signal 1200 includes intermediate destination information1203 identifying an intermediate node via which information about thesmall coverage area base station is forwarded, e.g., informationidentifying the macro base station in which the small coverage area basestation is located. In one exemplary embodiment, signal 1200 is thesignal generated and transmitted by a macro base station in response toa received request signal 1000, which was transmitted by the smallcoverage area base station in step 512 of flowchart 500 of FIG. 5. Inanother exemplary embodiment, signal 1210 is the signal which isgenerated by the small coverage area base station and transmitted instep 514 of flowchart 500 of FIG. 5.

Drawing 1300 of FIG. 13 illustrates an example of operating a smallcoverage area base station 1302, in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment. Exemplary small coverage area base station 1302 is, e.g., afirst base station implementing a method in accordance with flowchart500 of FIG. 5 and/or implemented in accordance with first base station700 of FIG. 7. An exemplary wireless communications system includesmacro cell base station 1348, small coverage area base station 1302,e.g., a WiFi access point, which is located within the macro cellcorresponding to macro BS 1348, and a user equipment (UE) device 1303,e.g., a mobile wireless terminal such as a smartphone. Small coveragearea base station 1302 includes a processor 1304, memory 1306, a firstmodem, modem 1 1308 which is an LTE modem, and a second modem, modem 21310, which is a WiFi modem. The modems (1308, and 1310 are coupled tothe processor 1304. Modem 1 1308 includes a transmitter module, TX 11312 coupled to transmit antenna 1311 for transmitting LTE signals in afirst frequency band, e.g., a licensed frequency band. Modem 1 1308includes a receiver module, RX 1 1314 coupled to receive antenna 1313for receiving LTE signals in the first frequency band. Modem 2 1310includes a transmitter module, TX 2 1316 coupled to transmit antenna1315 for transmitting WiFi signals in a second frequency band, e.g., anunlicensed frequency band. Modem 2 1310 includes a receiver module, RX 21318 coupled to receive antenna 1317 for receiving WiFi signals in thesecond frequency band.

UE device 1303 includes a processor 1320, memory 1322, a first modem,modem 1 1324 which is an LTE modem, and a second modem, modem 2 1326,which is a WiFi modem. The modems (1324 and 1326) are coupled to theprocessor 1320. Modem 1 1324 includes a transmitter module, TX 1 1328coupled to transmit antenna 1327 for transmitting LTE signals in a firstfrequency band, e.g., a licensed frequency band. Modem 1 1324 includes areceiver module, RX 1 1330 coupled to receive antenna 1329 for receivingLTE signals in the first frequency band. Modem 2 1326 includes atransmitter module, TX 2 1332 coupled to transmit antenna 1331 fortransmitting WiFi signals in a second frequency band, e.g., anunlicensed frequency band. Modem 2 1326 includes a receiver module, RX 21334 coupled to receive antenna 1333 for receiving WiFi signals in thesecond frequency band.

Macro base station 1348 includes an LTE modem 1349 for transmitting andreceiving wireless LTE signals in the first frequency band. The macrobase station 1348 is also coupled to other network nodes, a backhaulnetwork, and/or the Internet. In some embodiments, the small coveragearea base station 1302 is coupled to other network nodes, a backhaulnetwork, and/or the Internet.

In step 1340, the small coverage area BS 1302 monitors, on an ongoingbasis, the first frequency band to detect signals from one or more UEdevices, e.g., monitors particular resources designated to be used toconvey discovery signals in the first frequency band. In step 1341, thefirst UE device powers on the first mode 1324. In step 1342, the UEdevice generates and transmits discovery signal 1343 into the firstfrequency band. The discovery signal is, e.g., in accordance withexemplary discovery signal 900. In step 1344, the small coverage area BS1302 detects the discovery signal 1343. In response to detecting thediscovery signal, processing the information communicated in thediscovery signal, and determining that the small coverage area BS 1302can support communications with UE device 1303, since UE device 1303includes a WiFi modem, the small coverage area BS 1302 responds in step1345 by communicates information about the small coverage area basestation 1302 to the UE device, with the information being communicatedto the UE device 1303 in the first communications band.

In one embodiment, in sub-step 1345A, the small coverage area basestation 1302 generates and transmits request signal 1346A to macro basestation 1348, requesting macro base station 1348 to transmit informationabout the small coverage area base station to UE device 1303. In oneexample, request signal 1346A, is in accordance with request signal 1000of FIG. 10. In another embodiment, in sub-step 1345B, the small coveragearea base station 1302 generates and transmits information signal 1346Bto macro base station 1348, wherein signal 1346B including informationabout the small coverage area base station to be communicated to UEdevice 1303. In one example, information signal 1346B, is in accordancewith information signal 1100 of FIG. 11. In some embodiments, signal1346A or 1346B is communicated wirelessly over the first frequency bandbetween small coverage area BS 1302 and macro BS 1303. In someembodiments, signal 1346A or 1346B is communicated via a backhaulbetween small coverage area BS 1302 and macro BS 1303. Macro basestation 1350 receives request signal 1346A or information signal 1346 B.If request signal 1346A is received, macro BS 1348 retrieves informationabout small coverage area BS 1302 from its internal memory, e.g., via alook-up table, or externally from information stored on another networknode, and macro BS 1348 generates information signal 1350 includinginformation about the small coverage area base station which allows UE1303 to attach to small coverage area BS 1303. Then macro BS 1348transmits information signal 1350 to UE device 1303 in the firstfrequency band using LTE signaling protocol. If information signal 1346Bwas received by macro BS 1348, macro BS generates signal 1350 whichincludes information communicated in signal 1346B, and transmits signal1350 to UE device 1303 in the first frequency band using LTE signalingprotocol. In various embodiments, signal 1350 is in accordance with 1100of FIG. 11. UE device 1303 receives information signal 1350 at firstmodem 1324 and recovers the information about the small coverage areabase station which allows it to access the small coverage area basestation.

In one embodiment, in sub-step 1345C the small coverage area BS 1302generates and transmits discovery signal to UE device 1302 in the firstfrequency band using LTE communications protocol, e.g., in a discoveryresource, to communicate information about the small coverage area BS1302 to UE device 1303. In one embodiment discovery signal 1346C is inaccordance with discovery signal 800 of FIG. 8. UE device 1303 receivessignal 1346C and recovers the information communicated.

Following transmission of signal 1346A or signal 1346B or signal 1346C,the small coverage area BS 1302, in step 1347, powers on the secondmodem. In step 1353, following recovery of information from signal 1352,UE device 1303 powers down modem 1 1324 in step 1353 and powers on modem2 1326 in step 1354. In step 1355, UE device 1303 configures the secondmodem in accordance with the information recovered from signal 1350.

The UE device 1303 accesses the small coverage area base station 1302,via WiFi control signaling in the second communications band andattaches to the small coverage area base station 1302. Step 1356indicates that WiFi control signals 1357 are transmitted from TX 2 1332of modem 2 1326 in the second frequency band. Step 1358 indicates thatWiFi control signals 1357 are received by RX 2 1318 of modem 2 1310 inthe small coverage area BS 1302. Step 1359 indicates that WiFi controlsignals 1360 are transmitted from TX 2 1316 of modem 2 1310 in thesecond frequency band. Step 1361 indicates that WiFi control signals1360 are received by RX 2 1334 of modem 2 1326 in UE device 1303.

Step 1362 indicates that WiFi user data signals 1363, e.g., trafficsignals, are transmitted from TX 2 1332 of modem 2 1326 in the secondfrequency band. Step 1364 indicates that WiFi user data signals 1363 arereceived by RX 2 1318 of modem 2 1310 in the small coverage area BS1302. Step 1365 indicates that WiFi user data signals, e.g., trafficsignals, 1366 are transmitted from TX 2 1316 of modem 2 1310 in thesecond frequency band. Step 1367 indicates that WiFi user data signals1366 are received by RX 2 1334 of modem 2 1326 in UE device 1303.

At some point communications is terminated between the small coveragearea BS 1302 and UE device 1303, e.g., for any number of reasonsincluding, e.g., a decision to terminate by UE device 1303, a decisionto terminate by small coverage area BS 1302, or a loss of communicationsbecause of poor channel conditions. In response to the termination ofcommunications, UE device 1303, in step 1368 powers down the secondmodem 1326. In response to the termination of communications, in step1369, the small coverage area base station 1302 powers down the secondmodem 1310 provided there are no other UE devices currently attached tothe small coverage area base station.

In various embodiments, if there are no UE devices attached to the smallcoverage area BS, the small coverage area base station controls modem 21310 to be powered down. In some embodiments, small coverage area BS1302 controls TX 1 module 1312 of modem 1 1308 to be powered down whennot being operated to communicate information in response to a detectedUE device. In some embodiments, small coverage area base station 1308powers up receiver module 1314 of modem 1 during predetermined discoverytime intervals in accordance with a schedule, to facilitate discovery ofUE devices.

Drawing 1400 of FIG. 14 illustrates an example of operating UE device1403, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. UE device 1403 is,e.g., a UE device implementing a method in accordance with flowchart 200of FIG. 2 and/or implemented in accordance with UE device 300 of FIG. 3.An exemplary wireless communications system includes a macro cell basestation, small coverage area base station 1402, e.g., a WiFi accesspoint, which is located within the macro cell corresponding to macro BS,and a user equipment (UE) device 1403, e.g., a mobile wireless terminalsuch as a smartphone. Small coverage area base station 1402 includes aprocessor 1404, memory 1406, a first modem, modem 1 1408 which is an LTEmodem, and a second modem, modem 2 1410, which is a WiFi modem. Themodems (1408 and 1410) are coupled to the processor 1404. Modem 1 1408includes a transmitter module, TX 1 1412 coupled to transmit antenna1411 for transmitting LTE signals in a first frequency band, e.g., alicensed frequency band. Modem 1 1408 includes a receiver module, RX 11414 coupled to receive antenna 1413 for receiving LTE signals in thefirst frequency band. Modem 2 1410 includes a transmitter module, TX 21416 coupled to transmit antenna 1415 for transmitting WiFi signals in asecond frequency band, e.g., an unlicensed frequency band. Modem 2 1410includes a receiver module, RX 2 1418 coupled to receive antenna 1417for receiving WiFi signals in the second frequency band.

UE device 1403 includes a processor 1420, memory 1422, a first modem,modem 1 1424 which is an LTE modem, and a second modem, modem 2 1426,which is a WiFi modem. The modems (1424 and 1426) are coupled to theprocessor 1420. Modem 1 1424 includes a transmitter module, TX 1 1428coupled to transmit antenna 1427 for transmitting LTE signals in a firstfrequency band, e.g., a licensed frequency band. Modem 1 1424 includes areceiver module, RX 1 1430 coupled to receive antenna 1429 for receivingLTE signals in the first frequency band. Modem 2 1426 includes atransmitter module, TX 2 1432 coupled to transmit antenna 1431 fortransmitting WiFi signals in a second frequency band, e.g., anunlicensed frequency band. Modem 2 1426 includes a receiver module, RX 21434 coupled to receive antenna 1433 for receiving WiFi signals in thesecond frequency band.

In step 1440, the UE device 1403 powers on the first modem, modem 11424. In step 1442 the UE device monitors with the first modem fordiscovery signals from small coverage area base station using the firstmodem 1430, e.g., the receiver module 1430 of the first modem 1424. Instep 1444 the small coverage area base station 1402 transmits adiscovery signal 1446 via the first frequency band in accordance with anLTE protocol. In some embodiments, discovery signal 1446 is inaccordance with discovery signal 800 of FIG. 8. In step 1448, the UEdevice 1403 receives discovery signal 1446 in modem 1 1424. In step 1450the UE device 1403 recovers the information communicated in signal 1446including information indicating the small coverage area base station1402 is a WiFi AP. In step 1452 UE device 1403 determines that itsupports communications with small coverage area BS 1402, e.g., it iscompatible since both devices (1402 and 1403) include WiFi 802.11modems.

In step 1454, the UE device 1403 decides that it intends to attach tosmall coverage area BS 1402. In step 1456, the UE device 1403 powersdown modem 1 1424, and in step 1458 the UE device 1403 powers on modem 21426. In step 1460, the UE device 1403 configures modem 2 1426 inaccordance with information recovered from discovery signal 1446.

In step 1462 UE device 1403 scans the second communications band for asignal from the small coverage area BS 1402. In this example, there areno other UE devices currently attached to the small coverage area BS1402, and BS 1402 has TX module 1416 of modem 2 1410 powered down toconserve power. Since UE device does not detect a signal from BS 1402during the monitoring, UE device generates and transmits probe signal1466, e.g., a WiFi signal in the second communications band, in step1464. Small coverage area BS 1402 detects probe signal 1466 in step1468, and in response, in step 1470 the small coverage area BS 1402powers on transmitter module TX 2 1416 in modem 2 1410.

Small coverage area BS 1402 transmits WiFi control signals 1474 in thesecond communications band, as indicated by step 1472. UE devicereceives WiFi control signals 1474 and recovers the communicatedinformation in step 1476. UE device 1403 transmits WiFi control signals1480 in the second communications band, as indicated by step 1478. Smallcoverage area BS 1402 receives WiFi control signals 1480 and recoversthe communicated information in step 1482. Small coverage area BS 1402transmits WiFi user data signals 1486, e.g., traffic signals, in thesecond communications band, as indicated by step 1484. UE device 1403receives WiFi user data signals 1486 and recovers the communicatedinformation in step 1488. UE device 1403 transmits WiFi user datasignals 1492, e.g., traffic signals, in the second communications band,as indicated by step 1490. Small coverage area BS 1402 receives WiFiuser data signals 1492 and recovers the communicated information in step1494.

At some point communications is terminated between the small coveragearea BS 1402 and UE device 1403, e.g., for any number of reasonsincluding, e.g., a decision to terminate by UE device 1403, a decisionto terminate by small coverage area BS 1402, or a loss of communicationsbecause of poor channel conditions. In response to the termination ofcommunications, UE device 1403, in step 1496 powers down the secondmodem 1426. In response to the termination of communications, in step1498, the small coverage area base station 1402 powers down the TXmodule 1416 in second modem 1410 provided there are no other UE devicescurrently attached to the small coverage area base station.

In various embodiments, if there are no UE devices attached to the smallcoverage area BS 1402, the small coverage area base station 1402controls the TX module 1416 in modem 2 1410 to be powered down. In someembodiments, small coverage area BS 1402 controls TX 1 module 1412 ofmodem 1 1408 to be powered down when not being operated to transmitdiscovery signal 1444.

FIG. 15 is a drawing 1500 illustrating some exemplary frequency bandsand some exemplary air link resources in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment. Vertical axis 1502 represents frequency, while horizontalaxis 1504 represents time. Block 1510 represents exemplary air linkresources corresponding to first frequency band 1506, e.g., a licensedfrequency band. Block 1508 represents exemplary air link resourcescorresponding to second frequency band 1508, e.g., unlicensed frequencyband. The air link resources of block 1510 are to be used primarily formacro cell base station/UE device communications including macro celluser data signaling, e.g., traffic signaling. In addition, a smallportion of the resources of block 1510 are to be used for signaling tofacilitate communications between various small coverage area basestations and UE devices. Signaling in first communications band 1506uses a first communications protocol, e.g., an LTE protocol.

The air link resources of block 1512 are to be used for small coveragearea base station, e.g., WiFi AP, /UE device communications includinguser data signaling, e.g., traffic signaling. Signaling in firstcommunications band 1506 uses a second communications protocol, e.g., an802.11 WiFi protocol.

Various aspects and/or features of some, but not necessarily allembodiments, are further discussed below. Some exemplary methods andapparatus are directed to discovering small coverage area base stations,e.g., femto cell base stations, pico cell base stations, micro cell basestations, WiFi access points, Bluetooth access Points, etc., in anefficient way. Various exemplary methods are efficient in one or more ofthe following ways. Some exemplary methods are power efficient for idleuser equipment (UE) devices. Various exemplary methods are efficient inthat the method eliminates time wasted in searching for the smallcoverage area base stations; thus improving the throughput as well asbattery life. Some exemplary method and/or apparatus are power efficientin that the method improves power consumption of asynchronous accesspoints such as WiFi access points.

In various embodiments, the small access base stations, e.g., femto cellbase stations, pico cell base stations, micro cell base stations, WiFiaccess points, Bluetooth access Points, etc., can transmit or at leastreceive and decode on the primary carrier of the macro base station inwhose macro cell the small coverage area base station is located, e.g.,using the macro cell's technology. For example, a WiFi access pointlocated within an LTE macro cell, can also listen and decode LTEsignals.

In some embodiments, a macro cell base station assigns a group ofresources in a primary carrier's UL band. The UE devices pick one of theresources and transmit periodically.

In some embodiments, a macro cell base station assigns multiple groupsof resources, e.g., discovery resources, with multiple periodicities. Insome embodiments, the macro cell base station assigns a first group,e.g., a group for active UE devices, to a first periodicity betweenresources, e.g., discovery resources, and assigns a second group, e.g.,a group reserved for idle UE devices, to a second periodicity betweenresources, e.g., discovery resources, and the first periodicity isshorter than the second periodicity.

In some embodiments, each of the UE devices transmit in the resourcesirrespective of the macro cell or small cell they are associated with.In some other embodiments only a subset of the UE devices to transmit inthese resources. For example, only the UE devices attached to a macrocell base station or camped on a macro cell base station can transmit.In another example, each of the UE devices s except for those attachedto a WiFi access point can transmit.

In some embodiments, the UE device transmits its identity, e.g., S-TMSI,its capability, e.g. modems it can support, and its network identity,e.g., PLMN identity. The UE device transmits enough information so thatit can be contacted. In some embodiments, the UE device may alsotransmit the type of quality of service (QoS) it requires.

In some embodiments, small coverage area base stations monitor theperiodic resources, e.g., the periodic discovery resources being used byUE devices, on the primary carrier and discover the UE devices. In somesuch embodiments, a small coverage area base station determines whetherthe discovered UE device can attach to it. In some embodiments, thesmall coverage area base station communicates information to access thesmall coverage area base station to the discovered UE through MME. Insome embodiments, the information to access the small coverage area basestation can, and in some embodiments, does differ depending upon theparticular type of small coverage area base station. For example, theinformation communicated to a UE device to access a wife access pointincludes, e.g., the band used by the AP, its SSID, the WPA key, etc; andthe information communicated to the UE to access a LTE femto basestation info includes, e.g., the carrier on which femto base station istransmitting, PLMN id, cell ID and relevant parts of MIB/SIB.

In some embodiments, if a small coverage area base station does not haveany UE devices attached to it and the small coverage area base stationdoes not discover any UE devices, the small coverage area base stationcan sleep until the next periodic discovery resource. Thus the smallcoverage area base station goes into a low power mode of operation.

In some embodiments, a UE device upon receiving the information a smallcoverage area base station, determines whether or not to access smallcoverage area base station. If the UE decides to access the smallcoverage area base station, the UE device activates the relevant modem,corresponding to the small coverage area base station, and accesses thesmall coverage area base station.

In some embodiments, the macro cell base station does not assign anydedicated resources for UE device transmissions. In some suchembodiments, the small coverage area base stations listen for UEspecific signals in the UL of primary channel, e.g., the macro uplink,and communicate their measurements to the macro cell base station. Themacro cell base station can then determine the UE device thattransmitted that signal and communicate the small coverage area basestation information to the UE device.

In some embodiments, the macro cell base station assigns the resourcesin which the small coverage area base station can also transmit. In somesuch embodiments, small coverage area base stations then transmit theinformation required by UE device to access the small coverage area basestation.

In some embodiments, a base station, e.g., a small coverage area basestation and/or a macro cell base station, monitors for UE devicetransmissions, e.g., discovery signals, in a portion of an UL band of amacro cell to discover the presence of UE devices. In some suchembodiments, a signal is then sent to the UE device from the basestation informing the detected UE device of small coverage area basestations in the area of the UE device; the UE device then decideswhether or not to use one or more of the small coverage area basestations in the area.

In some embodiments, the transmitted discovery signal from the UE deviceincludes information about the capabilities of the UE device, e.g.,which modems are included in the UE device, which communicationsprotocols the UE device supports, and/or which communications bands theUE device supports. In some such embodiments, the base stations uses theinformation from the UE device to select and identify which smallcoverage area base stations are compatible with the UE device, andforwards information about the compatible small coverage area basestations.

In some embodiments, information communicated from the base station tothe detected UE device includes information which allows the UE deviceto access an identified small coverage area base station.

Various embodiments are directed to an exemplary system where a firstbase station, e.g., a small coverage area base station such as a femtobase station or WiFi AP, monitors for UE device signals transmitted byUE devices in a first frequency band used by a second base station,e.g., macro base station, to detect the presence of a UE device in thearea of the first base station. The first base station, in someembodiments, uses a second frequency band, e.g., WiFi frequency band,which is different from the first frequency band, e.g., macro uplinkfrequency band, for communication of user data, e.g., traffic data,to/from UE devices. In some embodiments the second frequency band is notused by said second base station, e.g., the macro BS, for communicatingwith the UE device. The first base station may be in a powerconservation mode of operation, e.g., with its transmitter modulepowered down, when monitoring for UE device signals in the firstfrequency band. The first base station, e.g., the small coverage areabase station, in response to detecting a UE device signal in the firstfrequency band, sends information to the UE device which transmitted thedetected signal. The communication of the information may be via thesecond base station, e.g., macro base station, which is provided theinformation to communicate from the first base station, e.g. smallcoverage area base station, via a backhaul link or transmitted directlyto the UE device. The information may be, e.g., information to make theUE device aware of the presence and/or identity of the first basestation, and, optionally, information which can be used by the UE deviceto access the first base station, e.g., information about the frequencyand/or communications resources which can be used to access the firstbase station, e.g., the small coverage area base station. In someembodiments the first base station, e.g., small coverage area basestation, transmits such information in a frequency band used by thesecond base station, e.g., macro base station, but then uses the secondfrequency band for the communication of user data, e.g., voice, text,images and/or video. Since the first base station, e.g., small coveragearea base station, may switch from a low power monitoring mode to afully transmit/receive mode in response to detection of a signal, e.g.,a signal indicating a UE device ID and/or device capability information,from a UE device in the first (macro) frequency band, the first basestation can operate in a low power mode and not transmit signals when UEdevices are not within the coverage area of the first base station. TheUE signals detected by the first base station may be device to devicediscovery signals transmitted to support device to device communicationusing the macro frequency band and/or signals transmitted to the macrobase station, e.g., as part of an access request or other signalingoperation.

Depending on the particular embodiment a small coverage area basestation will include a receiver capable of monitoring the first (macro)frequency band and both a transmitter and receiver for communicatingwith UE devices in the second frequency band, e.g., a femto or WiFiband. The first base station, depending on the particular embodiment,may or may not have a backhaul connection to the second (macro) basestation or a transmitter capable of transmitting information in thefirst (macro) frequency band.

It should be appreciated that the methods and apparatus described hereinallow a small coverage area base station to detect the presence of UEdevices in the proximity of the small coverage area base station and tocommunicate information to detected UE devices without requiring the UEdevices to transmit discovery information in the frequency band used bythe small coverage area base station and without requiring the UE deviceto switch to and/or monitor the frequency band used by the smallcoverage area base station to communicate user data. Furthermore, asmall coverage area base station need not transmit discovery signals ona routine or periodic basis in either the first frequency band or thesecond frequency band when UE devices are not detected within thecoverage area of the small coverage area base station thereby reducingand/or avoiding interference which is caused by such transmissions.

The techniques of various embodiments may be implemented using software,hardware and/or a combination of software and hardware. Variousembodiments are directed to apparatus, e.g., user equipment (UE) devicesincluding mobile nodes such as mobile wireless terminals, base stationsincluding maco base stations and small coverage area base stations,e.g., femto base stations, pico base stations, micro base station, WiFiaccess point, Bluetooth access points, e.g., network nodes, andcommunications system. Various embodiments are also directed to methods,e.g., method of controlling and/or operating a communications device,e.g., a user equipment (UE) device such as a mobile wireless terminal,e.g., a smartphone including a plurality of modems, a base station suchas a small coverage area base station, e.g., a femto cell base station,pico base station, a micro base station, a WiFi AP, a Bluetooth AP, etc,control nodes and/or communications systems. Various embodiments arealso directed to non-transitory machine, e.g., computer, readablemedium, e.g., ROM, RAM, CDs, hard discs, etc., which include machinereadable instructions for controlling a machine to implement one or moresteps of a method.

It is understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in theprocesses disclosed is an example of exemplary approaches. Based upondesign preferences, it is understood that the specific order orhierarchy of steps in the processes may be rearranged while remainingwithin the scope of the present disclosure. The accompanying methodclaims present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and arenot meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.

In various embodiments devices and nodes described herein areimplemented using one or more modules to perform the steps correspondingto one or more methods, for example, signal generation, transmitting,processing, and/or receiving steps. Thus, in some embodiments variousfeatures are implemented using modules. Such modules may be implementedusing software, hardware or a combination of software and hardware. Manyof the above described methods or method steps can be implemented usingmachine executable instructions, such as software, included in a machinereadable medium such as a memory device, e.g., RAM, floppy disk, etc. tocontrol a machine, e.g., general purpose computer with or withoutadditional hardware, to implement all or portions of the above describedmethods, e.g., in one or more nodes. Accordingly, among other things,various embodiments are directed to a machine-readable medium e.g., anon-transitory computer readable medium, including machine executableinstructions for causing a machine, e.g., processor and associatedhardware, to perform one or more of the steps of the above-describedmethod(s). Some embodiments are directed to a device including aprocessor configured to implement one, multiple or all of the steps ofone or more methods of the invention.

In some embodiments, the processor or processors, e.g., CPUs, of one ormore devices, e.g., communications devices such as a user equipment (UE)device, e.g., a smartphone, and/or base stations, e.g., a small coveragearea base station, are configured to perform the steps of the methodsdescribed as being performed by the devices. The configuration of theprocessor may be achieved by using one or more modules, e.g., softwaremodules, to control processor configuration and/or by including hardwarein the processor, e.g., hardware modules, to perform the recited stepsand/or control processor configuration. Accordingly, some but not allembodiments are directed to a communications device, e.g., userequipment device, e.g., a smartphone with multiple modems, or a basestation, e.g., a small coverage area base station, with a processorwhich includes a module corresponding to each of the steps of thevarious described methods performed by the device in which the processoris included. In some but not all embodiments a communications deviceincludes a module corresponding to each of the steps of the variousdescribed methods performed by the device in which the processor isincluded. The modules may be implemented purely in hardware, e.g., ascircuits, or may be implemented using software and/or hardware or acombination of software and hardware.

Some embodiments are directed to a computer program product comprising acomputer-readable medium comprising code for causing a computer, ormultiple computers, to implement various functions, steps, acts and/oroperations, e.g. one or more steps described above. Depending on theembodiment, the computer program product can, and sometimes does,include different code for each step to be performed. Thus, the computerprogram product may, and sometimes does, include code for eachindividual step of a method, e.g., a method of operating acommunications device, e.g., a user equipment device, e.g., a wirelessterminal, or node, e.g., a base station such as a small coverage areabase station. The code may be in the form of machine, e.g., computer,executable instructions stored on a computer-readable medium such as aRAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory) or other type ofstorage device. In addition to being directed to a computer programproduct, some embodiments are directed to a processor configured toimplement one or more of the various functions, steps, acts and/oroperations of one or more methods described above. Accordingly, someembodiments are directed to a processor, e.g., CPU, configured toimplement some or all of the steps of the methods described herein. Theprocessor may be for use in, e.g., a communications device or otherdevice described in the present application.

While described in the context of an OFDM system, at least some of themethods and apparatus of various embodiments are applicable to a widerange of communications systems including many non-OFDM and/ornon-cellular systems.

Numerous additional variations on the methods and apparatus of thevarious embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled inthe art in view of the above description. Such variations are to beconsidered within the scope. The methods and apparatus may be, and invarious embodiments are, used with CDMA, orthogonal frequency divisionmultiplexing (OFDM), and/or various other types of communicationstechniques which may be used to provide wireless communications linksbetween base stations and user equipment devices, e.g., mobile nodes. Insome embodiments, some of the base stations, e.g., some of the smallcoverage area base stations are implemented as access points, e.g., WiFiAPs or Bluetooth APs or other APs, which establish communications linkswith user equipment devices, e.g., mobile nodes, using OFDM and/or CDMA.In various embodiments the mobile nodes are implemented as notebookcomputers, personal data assistants (PDAs), smartphones, tablets, pads,or other portable devices including receiver/transmitter circuits andlogic and/or routines, for implementing the methods.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of operating a user equipment (UE)device, comprising: receiving, at a first modem in said UE device, adiscovery signal via a first frequency band from a small coverage areabase station, said discovery signal being in accordance with a firstcommunications protocol; in response to receiving said discovery signal,powering a second modem in said UE device; and operating said secondmodem to scan a second frequency band for a signal from said smallcoverage area base station in accordance with a second communicationsprotocol or transmit a probe signal to said small coverage area basestation in said second frequency band, said probe signal being inaccordance with said second communications protocol, said secondcommunications protocol being different from said first communicationsprotocol.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first modem isconfigured for communication with a macro base station via the firstfrequency band.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising: operatingsaid second modem to communicate data with said small coverage area basestation while said first modem is used to communicate data with saidmacro base station.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said firstfrequency band is a licensed frequency band; and wherein said secondfrequency band is an unlicensed frequency band.
 5. The method of claim 1wherein the first protocol is a cellular wireless radio protocol.
 6. Auser equipment (UE) device comprising: means for receiving, at a firstmodem in said UE device, a discovery signal via a first frequency bandfrom a small coverage area base station, said discovery signal being inaccordance with a first communications protocol; means for powering asecond modem in said UE device in response to receiving said discoverysignal; and means for operating said second modem to scan a secondfrequency band for a signal from said small coverage area base stationin accordance with a second communications protocol or transmit a probesignal to said small coverage area base station in said second frequencyband, said probe signal being in accordance with said secondcommunications protocol, said second communications protocol beingdifferent from said first communications protocol.
 7. The UE device ofclaim 6, wherein said first modem is configured for communication with amacro base station via the first frequency band.
 8. The UE device ofclaim 7, further comprising: means for operating said second modem tocommunicate data with said small coverage area base station while saidfirst modem is used to communicate data with said macro base station. 9.The UE device of claim 6, wherein said first frequency band is alicensed frequency band; and wherein said second frequency band is anunlicensed frequency band.
 10. The UE device of claim 6, wherein thefirst protocol is a cellular wireless radio protocol.
 11. A computerprogram product for use in a user equipment (UE) device, the computerprogram product comprising: a non-transitory computer readable mediumcomprising: code for causing at least one computer to operate a firstmodem in said UE device to receive a discovery signal via a firstfrequency band from a small coverage area base station, said discoverysignal being in accordance with a first communications protocol; codefor causing at least one computer to power a second modem in said UEdevice in response to receiving said discovery signal; and code forcausing said at least one computer to operate said second modem to scana second frequency band for a signal from said small coverage area basestation in accordance with a second communications protocol or transmita probe signal to said small coverage area base station in said secondfrequency band, said probe signal being in accordance with said secondcommunications protocol, said second communications protocol beingdifferent from said first communications protocol.
 12. A user equipment(UE) device comprising: at least one processor configured to: operate afirst modem in said UE device to receive a discovery signal via a firstfrequency band from a small coverage area base station, said discoverysignal being in accordance with a first communications protocol; power asecond modem in said UE device in response to receiving said discoverysignal; and operate said second modem to scan a second frequency bandfor a signal from said small coverage area base station in accordancewith a second communications protocol or transmit a probe signal to saidsmall coverage area base station in said second frequency band, saidprobe signal being in accordance with said second communicationsprotocol, said second communications protocol being different from saidfirst communications protocol; and memory coupled to said at least oneprocessor.
 13. The UE device of claim 12, wherein said first modem isconfigured for communication with a macro base station via the firstfrequency band.
 14. The UE device of claim 13, wherein said at least oneprocessor is further configured to: operate said second modem secondmodem to communicate data with said small coverage area base stationwhile said first modem is used to communicate data with said macro basestation.
 15. The UE device of claim 12, wherein said first frequencyband is a licensed frequency band; and wherein said second frequencyband is an unlicensed frequency band.
 16. A method of operating a firstbase station, the method comprising: monitoring a first frequency bandused by a second base station to detect a signal transmitted by a UEdevice in said first frequency band; and communicating information aboutsaid first base station to said UE device in response to said monitoringdetecting a signal transmitted by a UE device in said first frequencyband.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein said first frequency band is afrequency band used by said second base station but which is not used bysaid first base station to communicate user data.
 18. The method ofclaim 16, wherein said information about said first base stationincludes first base station identification information.
 19. The methodof claim 16, wherein said information about said first base stationfurther includes information indicating communications resources whichcan be used to access said first base station.
 20. The method of claim16, wherein communicating information about said first base station tosaid UE device includes: sending a signal to said second base station tocause said second base station to transmit said information to said UEdevice.
 21. A first base station, comprising: means for monitoring afirst frequency band used by a second base station to detect a signaltransmitted by a UE device in said first frequency band; and means forcommunicating information about said first base station to said UEdevice in response to said monitoring detecting a signal transmitted bya UE device in said first frequency band.
 22. The first base station ofclaim 21, wherein said first frequency band is a frequency band used bysaid second base station but which is not used by said first basestation to communicate user data.
 23. The first base station of claim21, wherein said information about said first base station includesfirst base station identification information.
 24. The first basestation of claim 21, wherein said information about said first basestation further includes information indicating communications resourceswhich can be used to access said first base station.
 25. The first basestation of claim 21, wherein said means for communicating informationabout said first base station to said UE device includes: means forsending a signal to said second base station to cause said second basestation to transmit said information to said UE device.
 26. A computerprogram product for use in a first base station, the computer programproduct comprising: a non-transitory computer readable mediumcomprising: code for causing at least one computer to monitor a firstfrequency band used by a second base station to detect a signaltransmitted by a UE device in said first frequency band; and code forcausing said least one computer to communicating information about saidfirst base station to said UE device in response to said monitoringdetecting a signal transmitted by a UE device in said first frequencyband.
 27. A first base station comprising: at least one processorconfigured to: monitor a first frequency band used by a second basestation to detect a signal transmitted by a UE device in said firstfrequency band; and communicate information about said first basestation to said UE device in response to said monitoring detecting asignal transmitted by a UE device in said first frequency band; andmemory coupled to said at least one processor.
 28. The first basestation of claim 27, wherein said first frequency band is a frequencyband used by said second base station but which is not used by saidfirst base station to communicate user data.
 29. The first base stationof claim 27, wherein said information about said first base stationincludes first base station identification information.
 30. The firstbase station of claim 27, wherein said information about said first basestation further includes information indicating communications resourceswhich can be used to access said first base station.